Bangladesh is looking forward to expanding its diplomatic footprint with the imminent opening of two new missions- a High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand, and a consulate in Johor Bahru, Malaysia- within the next three months.
鈥榃e have received financial approval, and both missions will be operational within three months,鈥� foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain told BSS in Dhaka.
He said preparations are under way to allocate necessary human resources to staff the missions.
The move is part of the interim government鈥檚 strategic push to strengthen bilateral ties and improve consular services for Bangladeshis abroad, particularly migrant workers who play a pivotal role in the national economy through remittance contributions.
Hossain also revealed that plans are afoot to establish another consulate in Penang, Malaysia, to better serve the country鈥檚 substantial migrant workforce in the region.
In addition to these initiatives, the Ministry of Public Administration has already approved six more embassies and consulates across various countries. However, the finance division has yet to clear funding for these missions.
鈥楶reviously, the finance was not approved. We have resubmitted the proposals. While it may not be feasible to launch all six at once, we hope the most urgent ones get priority,鈥� said the adviser.
Among the proposed missions, a consulate in Guangzhou, China and a full-fledged embassy in Ireland are considered top priorities due to their strategic, economic, and diaspora relevance.
鈥榃e will try to convince the Finance Adviser to approve these (two missions) immediately so that they can be opened by next year,鈥� Hossain said, noting that the remaining missions may be rolled out in phases depending on budgetary clearance.
The Bangladeshi community in New Zealand, numbering several thousand, including over 1,000 students, has long relied on consular services from Bangladesh鈥檚 mission in Canberra, Australia.
The opening of a High Commission in Wellington will bring essential consular services closer to the community and strengthen Bangladesh鈥檚 presence among the 72 countries, including India and Pakistan, that already maintain missions in New Zealand.
Likewise, the new consulate in Johor Bahru will supplement the services currently offered by the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur and its passport centre, extending support to migrant workers in southern Malaysia.
Officials familiar with the matter said the diplomatic expansion is aligned with Bangladesh鈥檚 evolving foreign policy, which emphasises economic diplomacy, labour migration management and people-centric services for expatriates.
